Mythborn

by Lakshman, V.

  Brianna held out her hand, waiting. Reluctantly, and only at Silbane’s nod, did Kisan relinquish the weapon. Brianna belted it around her waist, using a black string to secure the pouch to her upper thigh. “We call this a gun. As Kisan said, it fires projectiles that can incapacitate or kill.”

  “I know,” was all Kisan said, the disgust in her voice obvious. However, to Arek’s ears, he also heard remorse, no doubt she was remembering the attack on the isle. He realized then just how much he’d missed, how much had changed in their world while he was on his quest with his master.

  “I trust you,” Arek told Brianna, “but understand how this must feel to everyone else.”

  She nodded, then placed her palm on another panel, which slide aside. She withdrew a silver metal tube and a bunch of transparent squares. They looked like clear cloth, about the size of her hand, which she stuffed into a waiting pocket. Finally, she moved to the top of the tomb and the green numbers. “I’m just trying to get a sense of when…”

  Her face turned white, and she sat back heavily. Then she grasped the side of the tomb and leaned forward, still looking at the glowing green runes. Heartbeats passed, and still she didn’t move. Finally, Arek went over, put a gloved hand on her shoulder, and asked, “What?”

  Brianna shook her head. “It can’t be.” She rubbed her eyes as if to change what she saw.

  “What can’t be?” he asked again, looking up quickly at the group.

  “Ten…” Brianna looked at the group, her eyes tracking across everyone until they finally rested upon Arek. To him, she said, “There must be a mistake.”

  “What?” asked Arek.

  Brianna’s face went from disbelief to guarded once again. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”

  “How long?” demanded Kisan.

  The dwarven woman looked at her and then smiled and said, “I can’t say until I’ve confirmed it with an outside reading.”

  Arek tilted his head. “Outside?”

  Brianna nodded. “The stars. I can confirm things once I take a reading of the sky.”

  Arek nodded, knowing that for some people, their fates were tied to the stars. Of course the masters of the Isle frowned on such superstition, teaching them the science behind the path of planets around their star, but personally he couldn’t fault someone who still needed the reassurance of faith. “Leave her alone,” he said. “Once she knows she’ll tell us.”

  He saw the grateful glance that Brianna gave him there, and the flash of anger from Kisan. He’d started to care less about what the master thought, but her undercurrent of aggression was beginning to wear on him. Only the presence of Silbane stayed his hand. If he could do what he wanted to… the thought led to a sudden whirlwind of visions of him possessing all of them, turning them to his will.

  “Do you remember any more of where you come from?” Lilyth asked as her eyes flicked from Arek back to Thoth.

  That jarred Arek back to the here and now. He looked at Lilyth, only to be answered with a soft smile and nod, as if she liked how he thought. He found himself wondering what he and Lilyth could accomplish together. Certainly ruling Edyn was not beyond their capabilities. The thought left a delicate sense of propriety, as if his destiny was something tangible, only a grasp away.

  Brianna shook her head. “It will take some time for my entats to fully heal me. Until then, I remember my skills but everything else is vague.”

  “Perhaps you should consider leaving Brianna here, with us,” Lilyth said. “She will be of little use to you and as she’s said, she’s no soldier.”

  Arek looked at Yetteje, who gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head, then he turned back at Brianna and said, “You said you’re a healer. Do you remember how to do that?”

  Brianna nodded hesitantly. “I’d need to learn more about your kind—organs, physiology—but yes… I think I can do that.”

  It was enough for Arek, who said, “My father and mother may need a healer. So may Niall. She’s coming.”

  Lilyth was about to say something but Thoth said, “Perhaps we should not force the issue now. As you reminded me, Arek must forge his own path.”

  The demon-queen looked at him, then nodded. “We will have to insure everyone’s safety as best as we can.” She turned to Arek. “Are you still committed to breaching Avalyon?”

  Arek stood up and motioned everyone to gather. “Yes.”

  “Very well,” replied Lilyth, “I will deposit you at the location of the lens, which may or may not still be with your father. Valarius has opened a gate to Bara’cor. Find it, and you can leave with your companions.”

  To Yetteje and Kisan she added, “Remember what hangs in the balance should Valarius survive.”

  Kisan shook her head with anger, but Yetteje nodded slowly. Neither, however, looked as though she disagreed with the demon-queen.

  Lilyth gestured and a gate opened. Both Silbane and Kisan transformed into their angelic forms. Arek couldn’t help but be impressed, their armor and wingblades looking keen and deadly. If he hadn’t already seen Orion and Helios, the new forms would have shocked him more. As it was, the group seemed somehow more complete with them arrayed like this.

  The two Watchers bowed to the Keeper and then arranged themselves to the left and right of his masters, their silver and gold armor just as lethal and imposing. Behind them came the party consisting of Ash, who had replaced Tempest with an appropriately sized blade offered by the guards; followed by Yetteje with Valor; Brianna with one hand resting uncertainly on the handle of the thing she called a gun; and Arek.

  The portal’s other side looked dark, as if it emptied into a small room. Lilyth said, “Be aware that I cannot gate you back. When used to anchor Avalyon, the lens will shatter but the island will become locked to Arcadia. You must find the portal Valarius has created if you wish to escape. She came and hugged Arek. “You are special, Arek. Do not falter, nor despair. What you do now will promise life for all our peoples. I’m so proud of you.”

  Arek thought of all the things he wanted to say. Finally, he settled on, “I have to do this but… thank you.”

  She nodded, stroking his cheek. “Find your father and mother, decide what’s best for them and your friends.”

  Arek gave her a quick nod and another hug. Yetteje grabbed his arm and pulled him gently to the opening. They clasped hands, then the party moved forward with weapons ready and stepped into the darkness. The gate flashed once, and shut with a snap of displaced air behind them.

  * * * * *

  “We send them once more into the breach,” Thoth said sadly.

  Lilyth watched the gate close, ignoring the Keeper, her thoughts on putting the next pieces in motion. “Summon Mithras, and bring me the Kinslayer,” she ordered her men.

  Thoth watched her, his curiosity plain for anyone to see.

  Guards saluted and left immediately. Within moments the newly created Aeris Lord came striding in wreathed in yellow flames like a cloak. Hemendra of the Altan Wastes was now Mithras the Morningstar, Aeris Lord and Fury of the Lady.

  “You will diminish yourself before me,” chastised Lilyth, knowing the merging of the barbarian would forever give Mithras a violent, unbridled streak, like a wild animal. She wished she could make a more direct lesson to teach this god proper respect, but he was of no use to her broken, and his spirit would serve well in the coming war to bring Edyn under heel.

  Mithras breathed in, then brought his flames under control. The Aeris Lord was still powerful and golden, shining like his namesake, the Morningstar. He bowed and went to one knee.

  “Command me, for it is good to live again,” he intoned.

  Lilyth waited until the guards had returned, carrying with them the sheathed Tempest. Even now she heard the blade sobbing.

  “Betrayed! Discarded! He will rue the day—”

  “Be silent, sister!” Lilyth warned, irritated that Tempest had still not grown up, even after all these years, still churlish and self-absorbed. The guards hand
ed the blade to her and stepped back. The demon-queen rose, walking down her dais until she stood before Mithras, immense even as he knelt.

  “Do you wish to live?” Lilyth asked.

  Mithras did not answer, somehow knowing she was not talking to him.

  It was Tempest who finally barked, “By your mercy, no! You who call yourself my sister, abandoning me just as they all do.”

  Lilyth said, “Very well,” and turned back to the throne.

  “Wait!” the blade said quickly. “I was angry, but meant no offense.”

  “You have not changed,” Lilyth said. “Still pining for a man who left you. How far you’ve fallen that one man could mean so much you’d wager your sanity.”

  “He loved me!”

  “He left you because you were unhinged, demanding more and more until there was nothing left to give. This body you’ve chosen, a miserable sacrifice that meant nothing to anyone.”

  “It did to him,” Tempest argued.

  “Keep telling yourself that,” replied the demon-queen. “He died happy to be free from your embrace.”

  The silence stretched behind that statement, until Tempest finally said, “I want to live.”

  “Then listen to my offer.” Lilyth waited, her sapphire eyes cool and distant. The birth of Tempest was so tangled with her own past it was hard to remember the sister who had been a happy and laughing princess, instead of the creature now inhabiting the blade, so consumed with self-pity and need.

  “You will follow this man,” Lilyth said, pointing to Mithras.

  “I am the Kinslayer, reviled by all Aeris,” the blade replied. “Why would you do this?”

  “We are, after all, family. And I have my reasons.” She walked closer to Mithras and said, “Look upon the man I would have you serve.” She turned and raised the blade before the Aeris Lord.

  Heartbeats passed as the blade seemed to consider him, though no outward sign that she did so was visible. Finally, the blade meekly asked, “Is he worthy of my love?”

  Lilyth nodded slowly. “Yes. More than you know. But you will take the Binding Oath and pledge yourself to him. In service you will find peace.”

  Mithras raised his head, his face looking up in rapture as Tempest flooded his mind. He turned to his queen, who inclined her head so he could speak.

  The Aeris Lord said to Tempest, “We will bring ruin upon those who betrayed you.”

  Moments passed, then the blade finally said, “By the forge of my maker, I bind myself to his man as ally. My Oath as an Aeris Lord, I will cause no harm to befall Mithras the Morningstar, either through my action or inaction.”

  Mithras repeated, “By the life given to me by the Lady, I bind myself to Tempest as ally. My Oath as an Aeris Lord, I will cause no harm to befall Tempest, either through my action or inaction.” He reached up and grasped the blade Lilyth had unsheathed, letting his blood run across the metal.

  Tempest absorbed the blood, turning golden in color, her form changing slightly in shape to a gleaming blade with a sun emblazoned upon the hilt forming the cross guard. Mithras rose and grasped her, his eyes bright.

  “She is worthy,” he breathed, his eyes wide with wonder.

  Lilyth looked at them both, then said, “I have a special mission for you, Morningstar.”

  Then she sent out a message to Alion Deft. It was silent, meant only for her. It was short, but with it rested the future of all her people. She breathed in and mentally cast her command, Stand ready, our freedom is nearly upon us.

  Duncan’s Plight

  When you can show someone else their fear

  held in your hands, you have true power.

  - Argus Rillaran, The Power of Deceit

  The space they appeared in was dark, but the echoes made it seem bigger. Silbane, Kisan, and the Watchers moved forward into the gloom and disappeared, no doubt their vision enhanced to see in this strange twilight. Brianna’s eyes reflecting the dim light like the silver behind a cat’s eyes. When she noticed Arek looking at her she said, “Darklight,” as if that explained it. Still, she was sure-footed and Arek surmised she could see just as well as his masters.

  Ash cursed, hitting Arek from behind and then softly apologizing. He and Arek, it seemed, were stuck holding onto Brianna like blind men to find their way. It was finally Yetteje who solved the problem by drawing back on Valor slightly, causing a golden yellow arrow to appear and lighting the room with its warm glow.

  They were in a chamber with a table on one end. Even as the party looked around it was clear there was a man suspended between two poles hanging near the other wall. He appeared dead, the body torn and rent from the result of what was obviously brutal lashings. Kisan changed form and went to the table, while Brianna and Arek went to look at the man. Silbane and the two Watchers stood guard.

  The man hung by his wrists, secured by two thorny vines. Dried blood from lashes that crisscrossed his entire body lay in such numbers there was no skin left unmarred. He was naked, torn, and tortured to such an extent Arek didn’t think he could possibly be alive. It was only when a pale eye opened that he fell back with a gasp.

  Brianna moved forward, withdrawing one of her clear patches. She carefully applied it to the man’s chest and watched as lines appeared on its surface. She then withdrew the metal tube and dialed one end, then pressed it to the patch. Arek heard a hiss, then Brianna put the tube away and said, “Now we wait.”

  “From the looks of his belongings,” muttered Kisan, “I’d say this is Duncan.” She didn’t sound sorry he was in such a horrible condition, but thankfully she didn’t make any other comment.

  Arek looked back at the man Lilyth said was his father. That eye still looked at him unwaveringly, the same pale blue color as his own. He leaned forward then and said softly, “We came to rescue you. I… I’m Arek.”

  The only indication he’d heard was a slight widening of his one eye, though whatever Brianna had done seemed to be having some slight effect. It was probably his imagination, but it looked as though some of the swelling had reduced a bit around the other eye and the man seemed to be focusing more.

  “Water…” a whisper croaked past cracked lips.

  Arek undid the small canteen he’d kept and poured a bit onto the man’s lips, letting him wet his tongue. Then he poured a bit more, drops at a time, so as to avoid choking him. The man swallowed slowly, then more as his throat eased open.

  “The damage is pretty extensive,” Brianna offered, “but repairable if he—”

  A sudden crack sounded and Brianna’s cheek was opened by a lash of a thorn vine. She fell back with one hand over the cut as more cracks sounded. Arek rolled, feeling the bite of at least one lash across his back before coming to his feet. Facing their party were two vaguely humanoid trees, one holding Duncan’s limp body while the other attacked them with vines that snapped out with blinding speed.

  The Watchers reacted immediately. Orion dropped his leading wing in front of Arek to protect him from the thorn vine’s whips while Helios dived in and covered Brianna with his own body. He looked at Silbane and said, “Wood gholems! Use your wings!”

  It was clear the Watcher wanted Silbane to use his wingblades, but the master did not. It was soon apparent why, for Duncan would be skewered by the feathered death that would be unleashed. Instead, the master yelled, “Yetteje!”

  The princess did not waver but began pulling and releasing arrow after arrow as if she’d been born with her bow in hand. The bolts of fire struck the closest gholem in quick succession, driving it back toward the other. Every arrow burrowed in as if it sought the creature’s own heart. At the same time, the gholem let out a keening screech and fell back as the fire immolated it from within. Arek wondered if Yetteje’s bow liked to kill, an odd thought that yet felt strangely appropriate.

  Into this melee flew a black streak that was Kisan, her razor wing cutting into the gholem even as she spun and sliced through the vines holding Duncan aloft. Her large size in this smaller space ham
pered her normally fluid movement and instead of slicing completely through the gholem, the master merely managed to cut the vines holding onto Duncan before falling to her knees. It was enough. The red mage crumpled into a heap and Yetteje let her arrows fly in earnest, her target suddenly clear.

  The wood gholem did not retreat, instead it sent out another keening screech, then lashed at Kisan, who was just rising. The vine thorns grabbed her by the wrists and pulled her in, her armored form becoming a shield for the creature as it continued its attacks.

  Arek saw green tendrils race across the floor. They enveloped Duncan, then continued, entwining around Brianna’s legs. The dwarven woman pulled, but to no avail, her legs stuck fast as if in irons. They came closer, and Arek became angry. These creatures had tortured his father, leaving him at the edge of death’s door. They continued to attack without mercy, and he had had enough. Blackfire blazed from his skin, forcing everyone back. He reached out and grabbed a vine and his blackness spread, racing back along the green tendril and consuming the creature. In the beat of a heart it dissolved into black dust, one final shriek marking its obliteration. Beneficent and healing energy surged through him, making him feel stronger.

  “By the gods!” remarked Kisan. She’d been entangled along with Brianna, and though Arek’s black flame had not hurt her, it was clear she’d underestimated him. Part of him cursed himself for losing control and revealing any of his power. Another part liked the fear he saw in her eyes.

  Finally, it was Brianna who said, “That’s going to wake up the neighborhood. We need to move.”

  Arek nodded, ignoring the wide-eyed stares he was getting from everyone but Brianna and grabbed his father’s robe from the table. The man had levered himself up on an elbow, and Brianna had moved over to help him. She was able to pick him up easily given her size, at least enough for Arek to hastily drape the robe over his father’s body. He looked at the man, still blood soaked and gruesome, but now looking more like a man than a flayed piece of meat.